“Hah!” Kaji flew around the sudden, glaring obelisk in the center of the Lagoon for what had to have been the hundredth time. “Will you just look at this thing?! Whoop! I bet we could take killer dives off of this thing!”
“You kidding?!” Sora stammered from halfway down the length of the tower. He braved the tropical winds as he climbed higher and higher. “This makes a great lookout!”
“Sora!” Flare fluttered up to the stallion. “I know you are good at harpooning! But you've got no wings on you!”
“Ohhhhh don't yellow yourself, sister!” Sora stuck his tongue out. “This thing is totally climbable! See?!” He gestured at the various notches built into the golden framework of the spire. “We could totally make a lookout post! It'd help us spot cyclones early!”
“So... ehhhh...” Far down below, on board the Swan Song, Theanim Mane posed with his camera. He wasn't even remotely alone. Aside from Nick and Sinrar, the Lagoon's waters were buzzing with Nealenders—both swimming and in canoes—as they all drew in close to examine the new monument. “I take it you fine lads and lasses aren't angry about this cataclysmic change?”
“As if!” Silver exclaimed, rowing up with a raft full of wide-eyed Continentalists. “Screw Ultimo! Now we've really got something to be proud of!” He gazed up at the immense tower, grinning. “Fill me with shells... we could spear so many seagulls using this!”
Theanim fought the urge to cringe. “But... b-but the Shard of Verlaxion!” He gulped, gazing forlornly into the waters below. “You... you do realize that there can't be any piece of the Queen's gift left...”
“Aye,” Flare said with a nod, hovering lower. “It shattered completely when we surfaced along with the tower.”
“I am so very... very sorry,” Theanim said, holding his goggles to his chest. “Surely, if Rainbow and the rest of us had known that such a terrible thing would happen—”
“You say that as if it's a bad thing!” Silver gestured up at the tower. “Look! Verlaxion's given us the greatest gift of all!”
“Whoop!” Kaji dove down. “A heck of a lot better than a useless glowy rock of magic ice!”
“Heeheehee!” Flare hugged herself in midair.
Theanim exhaled. “Well...” He smiled awkwardly. “I suppose it... must fall within the Queen's divine will...”
“Doctor Mane!” one of the Continentalists in Silver's raft called out. “Is it true that you went under with the Colonialists' ship?”
“Erm... yes.” Theanim nodded. “I submerged along with Rainbow Dash and her companions.”
“Verlaxion's Sleet...” Another foreigner gasped. “And you're still alive!”
“Tell us...” Yet another leaned forward, gaping at the Swan Song. “What did you see down there?”
“Erm...” Theanim instantly resumed trembling. He pivoted aside, but he couldn't get the glaring sight of the tower out of his eyes. So he looked straight down at the trimaran's deck. “It's... it's rather difficult to describe, really—”
“No it isn't!” Flare chirped. She flew in front of the occupants of Silver's raft, grinning from ear to ear. “It was this huuuuuuge underground lair! Only everything was made out of shiny gold metal instead of dirt! And there were giant gears and machine parts!”
“Machine... p-parts...?”
“And then Rainbow Dash opened a door and absorbed a plume of red flame! With her body!” Flare spun and pointed at the tower. “And then this happened! Isn't it righteous?! Whoop!”
“Ha ha! Whoop!”
“Whoop!”
The Continentalists gazed at one another, breathless.
“How... how could this be possible...?”
“The Order makes no mention of... of machinery beneath our islands...!”
“It must have been built by one of the Six Tribes before Unification.”
“Impossible! Theanim and his companions were clearly hallucinating!”
“But how would that explain the Tower?!”
“Uhm... I took photographs,” Theanim said.
The ponies blinked at him.
“I... I-I took photographs of the entire place,” he reiterated. “I assure you... what Flare speaks of is quite real.” He gulped. “In less than a day, I'll have the images developed... and you'll have your proof.”
“But... but what could it all mean?” asked one of the foreigners. “None of this makes any sense!”
“Why would Verlaxion will such a thing into existence?” exclaimed another. “Surely you must have a hypothesis, Doctor. You represent the Higher Echelon of the Order!”
“... ... ...” Theanim slowly shook his head. “I... I have no explanation.” He slid his goggles back over his mane and glanced towards the far side of the trimaran. “I... only have Rainbow Dash.”
A few paces away, Nick and Sinrar stood side by side. They caught the gaping expressions of Theanim and his companions.
“Hmmmm...” Nick's nostrils flared as he ran a hoof over his shaved head. “What do you suppose is going through those Rohbreddenites' heads?”
“What else?” The edge of Sinrar's wrinkly muzzle curved slightly. “Bet their dead goddess is turning in her grave.”
“Oh, be nice to them, old stallion.” Nick bore a tired smile. He had to speak loudly to be heard over the chatter of the nearby Nealenders. “You and I would be freaking out too if we didn't have Rainbow's testimonies to prepare us.”
“Heh...” Sinrar looked up, up at the tower. “Who's prepared?”
“I can't believe we made it out of there in one piece!” Nick exclaimed. “Or that we got inside there in one piece!” His purple eyes twitched. “You saw Rainbow Dash! She knew exactly what to do and when! She's obviously been through this sort of stuff before!”
“Mmmm... indeed.” Sinrar's jaw tightened. “I suspect the harpy's been through worse... or at least she will be. Either way, she's prepared. We were just two fortunate featherjobs along for the ride.”
“'Featherjobs'... heh...” Nick gulped. “That's a good one, professor.”
“Just a matter of time before you laughed at something I had to sputter, peewee.”
“And I can't remember the last time you actually hit me for saying anything.”
Silence.
“Uhm... Professor?”
“Hmmmf?” Sinrar huffed.
Nick fidgeted. “...am I the only one who's starting to think that Rainbow's journey is beyond us.”
Sinrar turned to glare at the youngster. “Beyond us?” He waggled his gray eyebrows in Flare's direction. “A lot of stuff used to be beyond you, mon petite cheval!”
“Yeah... well...” Nick flicked a tail that wasn't there, all the while smiling bashfully. “When in Roam.” He blinked. “Egads... I about made myself throw up there.”
“But I understand where you're coming from, even if you're anchored there by your testicles.”
“Jee. Thanks.”
“Neither of us have what it takes... not like Rainbow does,” Sinrar grunted. “You saw her. We'd be buried alive in a stuffy gold coffin if it weren't for her and her Western magic.”
“Oh. Totally.”
“If she wants to get anywhere, she'll need other friends... her old friends.”
“Right...” Nick's ears twitched. “Still... uh...”
“Hmm?”
Nick smiled nervously. “Do you... regret having come along?”
“Why?” Sinrar growled. “Do you, imbecile?”
“Pffft...” Nick fell back—only to be caught by Flare with magical timing. “What do you think, old stallion?” he drawled, nuzzling into her embrace.
“Heeeeee!” She kissed the top of his head. “My favorite, squishy melon!” She blinked up at the professor. “...has anypony told you that you're really... really gray?”
“Snktt—hahahahaha!” Nick giggled in her grasp, leaning back to kiss her chin.
“Hrmmmm...” Sinrar looked off towards the undulating seascape. “Not as much as I used to be.”
The ship hung in silence.
“Do... do you suppose it worked?” Nick murmured as he and Flare gazed at a lone pegasus situated on the trimaran's bow. “Is... is her other friend back?”
Sinrar exhaled, adjusting his beret as he gaze at Rainbow's windblown figure. “Only the harpy can tell, my little pony. Only the harpy can tell...”
Nick, Flare and Sinrar gazed on, silent and curious.
Ugh, such a damn tease! Make with the Dress Horse, already!!
But it is nice to see Theanim being rational with his beliefs warping in front of his eyes.
Thirty situps, ):(. Knock 'em out!
I really do like Sinrar, I will be very sad if he disappears after this arc.
That feeling when you keep refreshing the page and new chapter suddenly pops up.
imgflip.com/readImage?iid=19750160
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Now we wait things to get feelsy again. Maybe a bit comedic too. Ain't no way dress pone will take the news well.
On the bright side, she doesn't need to produce her fainting couch from hammerspace when she goes through another drama queen fit; she can just float in the air and bawl her mascara off without disturbing anyone.
This arc ended too perfectly. Nobody died, Rarity got revived, Nick got shipped, Nick rebuilt his ship, the Nealanders are accepting a complete lifestyle change with barely any concern, and even Ultimo got his fancy-ass Disney-esque redemption.
inb4shell
6059702 Wait, wasn't shell going to be in the sixth tower? I thought that was more or less agreed on?
Also, Whoop is now a legit thing.
6059750
Nawwwwwww.
The sixth tower contains Discord
I say sir, have yu heard the word of Verlaxion? Ignore the photos of teh heretical Machine World and ignore the unclean Golden Spire, it has no meaning here.
And here I was hoping for more Rarity. But either way, I expect that we'll have a chapter concerning both Rarity and Twilight in a picture very soon.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
So it took us 72 chapters to revive marshmallow pone. At this rate, unless if IC speeds things up massively (this is IC, of course he won't), it'll be book 9 by the time we reach the edge of the world.
6059664
Don't get your hopes up. It'll just make it more fun for IC when they're shattered.
Share the spotlight a bit, let's let Dash, Twi and Rar have a moment. It's not asking much to be generous is it?
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr
6059768
So long as none of them are the Dark Tower, I will be okay.
6059463 lol, i hadnt even seen that comment
When the horse puns make the characters wanna throw up, you know you've gone too far.
6059892
"72 chapters to revive marshmallow pone."
Not really, you should consider that it took Rainbow the first 10-ish chapters of this thing to accept that Twilight was actually real, then another 10-ish chapters to explain everything and talk to the princesses and shit, then a few more to actually prepare for the journey.
...Though I guess that's still like nearly 50!
Still, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone is revived in Ynanhluutr, ending right with Applejack's turn.
All I can say about this chapter is my utter joy at seeing 'egads' used. Such a phantasmagorical word.
6059664
After Verlax falls, Rohbredden will need a king they can count on.
...foreign French dynasty, anyone?
No! Don't leave the Cranky French Pone and the sparkly new shipFlick and Soul-Stealing Thunker Meat behind. We can take the heat! WE CAN STILL BE USEFUL!!! Cries into a bowl of fish.
You know, I've become far less concerned with Verlax's motivations than I am with the length of the ethereal tether Dash's friends are on. With five phantoms floating about within fifteen feet, your personal space becomes somewhat problematic. I'm remembering another commenter describing Dash flying back to Equestria at full speed with her hooves in her ears, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Further, I am completely on board with Twilight Spookle, Scarity, and Fluttergeist. So much win! I'm still torn on names for Balloon Pone, though...
6060115
No need for all this sesquipedalian loquaciousness.
6060188 How about Banshee Pie? I hope Banshee Pie is the next to appear.
Okay, that's nice, but Rarity.
6059892 Actually, all the time in Nealend has been roughly 30 chapters or so. The voyage took about 10 chapters, I believe. It should still progress into book 8, however.
6060253
Indeed, darling.
This chapter suffered from a complete lack of marshmallow hoers.
6059976
6059788 I read that in a Scottish accent and now I'm having Gargoyle flash backs.
Anyways, I do believe everyone is as excited as I am about the return of the dress horse.
I'm becoming less and less certain that the story will finish at twelve books. Looks like Rainbow will reach the halfway point somewhere in book seven or eight, and then there's possibly the journey back…
IC, I would rather have more books to the series than a hastened plot.
6060454 Or, as I have stipulated before, IC can indefinitely extend the twelfth book. There's no in-story reason for 200 chapter books; it was just a result of people fearing that he would reach the "200 chapter limit" which doesn't actually exist. So technically, we have no reason to fear that he will not have space for as much as he wishes to do.
6060364 typical IC teasing. Expect at least 6 more chapters before the purple mashmallow appears.
6060385
Go then Austreoh; There are other flames than this.
Like some of the others, I, too, was dismayed by a distinct lack of fabulosity. But even so, it's nice to see Sinrar's and Nick's arcs wrapping up nicely. Though, I have to wonder if Rainbow will have any other corporeal companions in the near future. Theanim, perhaps?
Not to nitpick, but shouldn't it be mon petit poney?
Me:
Must see it. *refresh.* Must see it! *refresh* MUST SEE IT! *refresh*
*Sees nothing.* DAMN YOU!
You also wouldn't have been in a stuffy gold coffin to begin with if not for her and her western magic. But that's neither here nor there.
6060364 Lack of marshmallow makes it better, you know.
*in b4 downvotes*
6059702 Watch IC throw in a native named Shell just to screw with us
I really do hope Nick, Flare, Dr. Dude, and Thunker continue journeying with Rainbow.
6060454 6060564
You know, I've wondered for a while about whether Urohringr having three sets of twelve ring segments is IC's way of hinting at something...
So... who's going to go back to the first Chapter of Austraeoh when the last chapter of this story has been posted, and start reading the whole thing a second time?
Also... what is a 'thunker'? I feel like I am missing an obvious joke.
I was expecting fabulous marshmallow horse. But happy islanders and a giant tower is just as cool.
Watching for coming cyclones? Wouldn't that outright spoil the fun of being hit unprepared for them? But yeah, perhaps there is some substance to that 'Harmonic tests' theory after all - the tower makes for a lovely gift.
6060188 pinkie fly?
...There's still hope!
The golden spire is right there! Its got lots of fiddly bits that could have broken off during the ascent!
Sinrar's Machine World pimp cane can still become real!!!
6059702
Something tells me this book is about harmony and philosophical problems rather than headbutting and changeling problems
6059702
Man, that villain really didn't die. He's still very much alive within us.
. . .
All according to plan . . .
Should I continue to hope for photographic evidence of Twilight and Rarity? Hmm . . . maybe. Anyway, I can't wait for Ms. Marshmallow herself to be loaded with all this information. I know that from here on out, dialogue will be aplenty, and it'll somehow turn into chapters of gossip over tea.
Hmm . . . Rarity versus EE in fashion, or maybe just simply have her meet Belle and Eagle Eye. I do believe that west is looking pretty good right now.
6059702
6061488
6059750 The sixth tower contains this...
https://static.catchoftheday.com.au/images/product/172402/51b68a634c05d168958473_w583h477.jpg
inb4icescream
6061618
I know I will.
Feels good to be caught up to this story finally.
Feels real good.
So good I actually made an account.
Real good.